Coin-handling apparatus



Se t. 15, 1931. E. JONES ET AL 1,823,829

COIN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l llllllli.23 1% Ma r 85% I W 71. wi Z:

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Sept. 15, 1931. E. JONES E T AL 1,823,829

' com HANDLING APPARATUS 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I lI June-"104,:

(Mug W W W M W W mma Sept. 15, 1931.

L. E. JONES ET AL 1,823,829

COIN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 attm wuaa,

Patented Sept. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LABAN E. JONES AND ALBERT N.NADEAU, OF ANAOONDA, MONTANA COIN -HANDLING APPARATUS Application filedNovember 23, 1926. Serial No. 150,344.

This invention relates to coin-handling apparatusof such a nature as tosort coins of several denominations rapidly and accurately, and arrangethe sorted coins in stacks ready for use in making change.

The object of the invention is to provide a coin-handling apparatus, ofrelatively inex pensive construction, which will be suitable for use inticket oflices, change booths, cashiers windows and similar places, andwhich not only sorts the coins in'stacks of several denominations butpresents them in the view of a cashier or other operator in readyaccessibility for making change.

In practically all monetary systems the coins are of circular discformation, and coins of different denominations are of differentdiameters. This peculiarity is taken advantage of in sorting the coins,the sorting according to denominations being, actually, a sortingaccording to diameter.

We are aware that coin-handling apparatus have been devised heretoforewhich sort the coins according to their diameter, but we are not awareof'any such apparatus which makes use of this means in the manner andwith the mechanical construction and arrangement of parts employed byus.

The invention consists in a coin-handling apparatus havin an inclinedspiral runway or chute to which coins of all denominations are fed oneat a time; this runway being provided with a plurality of branches, onefor each denomination of coins, and means for separating the coins sothat each branch will receive only coins of a single denomination, therunway and its branches constituting the coin sorting mechanism of theapparatus. And the invention comprises, further. tubes or the like intowhich the coins are fed from the several branches of the runway and inwhich they are stacked, and a serving apparatus and means fortransferrin the stacks of coins thereto whereby the coins in theirseveral denominations are presented in ready accessibility to anoperator for purposes of making change, as we will proceed now toexplain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustratapparatus;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary sectional elevation v takenon the line 44 ofFig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to 3, but on a largerscale,-illustrating the mode of operation of the means for transferringthe stacks of coins from the stacking tubes to the serving mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the runway and one of itsbranches;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the detail of one ofthe plurality of coin-sorting openings used in the runway and itsbranches.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises aplate 1 which may form the counter or table top of a cashiers booth'orticket window. This plate is pro vided with a slot 2 of a length andwidth sufficient to receive coins of the largest size to be handled andsorted. Ordinarily the apparatus will be constructed for handling halfdollars, quarter dollars, nickels, pennies (one-cent pieces) and dimes,the diameters of which diminish in the order given. Hence the slot 2will be large enough to pass a half dollar and will therefore pass allof the smaller coins.

Connected with the slot 2 is an inclined spiral runway 3 havingdiverging from it a plurality of branches 4, 5, 6 and 7. The runway 3 isprovided at approximately the point j with an opening, such as shown inFigs. 7 and 9, large enough to permit the passage through it and intobranch 7, of dimes only, the other coins continuing along in runway 3.These dimes follow the course of the runway 7 to the point where thebottom of the runway is provided with a slot through which they dropinto a chute 27 by which they are conveyed into a stacking tube 29.WVhen this stacking tub-e is filled the dimes overflow and pass througha slot, such as indicated at 11 in Fig. 3, into a. reserve tube 31provided at its bottom with an opening, such as that shown at 12 (Fig.3) through which. they may be discharged by operation of a suitablecut-oft such as the sliding state 33 shown. approximately the point 70,there is provided an opening similar to the opening at 7' but of a sizeto permit the passage thercthrough of the pennies only into branch 6,the niolzels, quarters and half-dollars continuing to follow the courseof runway 3. These pennies rollalong 'in branch 6'until they aredischarged through a slot in its bottom into a chute 26 by which theyare conveyed to a stackingt ube 28. hen this tube isfilled the penniesoverflow through a slot similar to slot-11, described. into a reservetube 30, the latter being similar to and used in the same manner as thetube 31 by means of a gate or the like 32. At approximately the point[the runway 3 is provided with an opening similar to the openingsalready described but of a size to permit the passage therethrough ofthe nichels only into branch 5, the quarters and half-dollars followingthe courseof runway 3. The nickels thus rollin branch to the point 19where they pass through a slot into a chute 20 by which they areconveyed to a stacking tube 21 having adjacent to it"a reserve tube 22for the same purpose as tubes 31 and andhaving a gate or the lilre 23.At approximately the point 7) the runway 3 is provided with an openingsimilarto the other openings described but of a size to permit thepassage therethrough of the quarters only into the branch runway 4, thehalf-dollars Following the course of main runway 3 and the quartersrolling in branch. runway 4 to the points 8 and 14, respectively, wherethey drop through slots into chutes 9 and 15 which convey them tostacking tubes 10 and 16 having adjacent to them reserve tubes ll and 17similar to the tubes 31, 30 and 22 and provided with gates or the like13 and 18, respectively.

Each of the stacking tubes 1.0, 16. 21. 28

and 29 is provided with a vertically slidable plunger 34 having a head35 chainfered as indicated at 36 and forming a bottom for the tube, andeach plunger carries a combined guide and finger piece 3? slidablyengaging a rod 38 and its respective reserve tube. Also, each of thesestacking tubes has an upper extension 39 slotted as shown at 40 to admitto its interior the ends of coin holding tingers 41 carried by leafsprings 41 on a sliding sleeve 42 mounted upon the extension 39 andnormally pulled upward by pairs of springs :43 fixed at their oppositeends to holders 44 and 45 carried by theplate 1- and sleeve 42respectively. The sleeve carries Further along the runway 3, at

also a finger piece 46 by means of which the sleeve may be depressed, aswill later appear. On the plate 1 adjacent to the opening therethroughor" each of the extensions 39 is positioned a pair of stop members 4?partially overlying the bore of the adjacent tube for limiting upwardmovement of the coins in the extensions 39 to such a point that one coinonly of each stack will extend above the upper surface of plate 1.

The resiliently supported sleeves 42, fingers 41 and stop members 47 incombination with the stacking devices constitute the serving apparatushereinbetore referred to. The various parts of the apparatus may beassembled between the plate 1 a bottom plate 48 and spacing andconnecting members 49, as shown.

The sorting operation of the apparatus is as follows: The cashier orother operator takes a stack of coins of various denominations to besorted and passes them in their miscellaneous arrangement over the slot2 so that they will drop one by one into the runway 3, in well knownmanner. Due to the fact that the runway is of inclined spiralarrangement', the coins will roll down same upon theiredges and bethrown by centrifugal action against the outer wall of the runway asshown at a (Fig. 8).

As hereinbei ore pointed out the runway 3 is provided with a pluralityof openings such as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and these openings are inits outer wall. Theoperation of one of these'openings in its influenceupon the rolling coins will suflice for all and we will take, forexample, the runway 3 and its opening at b, which connects it with thebranch runway 4., as illustrated in Figs. 7 8 and 9. As explained, theopening at 7) is not high enough to allow half dollars to pass throughit, but the quarters are of sui'licieutly small diameter to do so. Dueto the fact that during their edgewise rolling passage down the runway3the coins hug the outer wall 0 thereof, allcoins but the quarters andhalf dollars will have passed out of the main runway and into itsbranches. When the quarters reach the opening at Z) they will toppleover so that their upper portions will extend through the opening andrest against the outer wall d of branch 4, as shown at 6, Fig. 8. Theycannot, however, fall over, and, because of the guide-lip f, they cannotget out of runway 3 until they reach the end of this guide-lip, at whichtime their upper edges which are resting against the wall d have passedthe upper end 9 of the inclined edge 71. of the end wall of the openingat b. The inclined edge it thus positively cams each coin which istilted out of the runway 3 into the corresponding adjacent runway, sincethe upperend g of the inclined edge pos tively twists the coin from themain runway 3. By this means a positive separation of the proper sizedcoins is possible, since the rolling coins can not strike against anedge and bound back into the main runway, thus resulting in either amiss-sorting of the coins or a clogging of the runway. They pass thence,still on edge, into branch 4, as shown at 2', Figs. 7 and 8.

By providing the incline to the edge h of each of the openings at j, 73,Z and b we are enabled to prevent coins of a size larger than those forwhich the particular opening is designed from running the portions oftheir edges which are in contact with the bottom of runway 3 through theopening at the end of lip f. This is so far the reason that the inclinededge h contacts with them at or ahead of their vertical diameters andthey are unable to tilt sufliciently to' pass out through openings notdesigned to permit them to pass.

WVe are aware that sorting apparatus has been devised in which the coinsroll on edge down a spiral runway and pass out of same by flopping overthrough appropriately proportioned openings into separate receiversprovided for them, but we are not aware of any device, similar to ours,where the coins are sorted as they roll, by switching them from one pathof travel to another and causing them to continue to roll, aftersorting, until they are deposited in collecting and stacking devicesprovided for them.

Obviously the stack handling and serving apparatus may be omitted wheresorting only is required, but our device has marked utility whenemployed in booths and oifices where the making of change rapidly andaccurately is of importance, and the operation of these features of theinvention may be stated as follows: lVhen the stacking tubes containcoins resting upon the heads of the plungers 34, the finger pieces 37and 46 may be grasped and moved toward each other. This results in thestack of coins being so raised that the spring pressed fingers 41, whenlowered by depression of the finger piece 46, will pass over the edgesof the coins and in passing the bottom one of the stack will snap underit into the space provided by the chamfer 36 of the head 35. Thisoperation is clearly illus trated in Fig. 5, the dotted line position ofthe plunger 34 being itsnormal coin-receiving position, and the fulllines showing the plunger raised with the stack of coins upon it and thesleeve 42 depressed so that the fingers 41 are beneath the stack ofcoins.

Now, upon releasing the finger pieces 37 and 46, the plunger 34 willdrop, by gravity; to its initial normal position, and the sleeve 42 withits fingers 41 carrying the stack of coins will be raised by the springs43 until the topmost coin of the stack contacts with the overhangingstop members 47. This is illustrated in Fig. 6, and in this figure othercoins are shown stacking in the tube.

Obviously, all of the several tubes and their appurtenances operate inexactly the same manner, so that when stacks of coins in all the tubesare raised to the position'shown in Fig. 6, half dollars, quarters,nickels, pennies and dimes will be so presented that the topmost one ofeach stack may be pushed from beneath the stopmembers 47 and out upon.the plate or counter 1, the next coin beneath it automatically takingits place against members 47.

By this means, having coins of all denominations in plain sight and easyof access, it will be seen that change may be made very expeditiously.

In normal operation, where our device is used as a change maker, morecoins are received than are paid out, but should the coins in anystacking tubebecome exhausted, the supply may be replenished by takingan adequate number from the appropriate reserve tube by manipulation ofits gate to bring the opening thereofin register with the coins in thetube so that the same may drop through into the opera tors hand, andthereafter being inserted preferably by dropping them into the slot 2whereby thev find their-way into the properstacking tube.

It will-thus be seen that we provide a very simple coin sorting devicewhich will separate coins of different denominations rapidly andaccurately. and combine therewith, if desired, a stacking and servingmechanism which presents coins of all denominations in full View of theoperator and in position to be quickly and easily handled in makingchange, the only movement on the part of the operator being that ofshoving the change across the counter; The coin-serving apparatus is soarranged as to be easilv spanned by the hand, and there being fivedeno1ninations of coins, one finger may be used for each denomination.

Our device is, in addition to its being a change-making apparatusandcoin-sorting device. a coin storage device, it being obvious thatwhen used, for example, in a cashiers booth, coins coming in over thecounter and dropped into the slot 2, will be stored in the stackingtubes and reserve tubes.

Various changes are contemplated as within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the following claims.

lVe claim:

1. In a coin-handling apparatus, a coinserving apparatus comprising astacking tube in which coins are stacked in uniform order, means forintroducing coins into said tube at the central portion thereof, meansfor moving a stack of coins longitudinally of saidtube, means activeupon a predetermined longitudinal movement of said stack of coins forresiliently supporting said stack of coins in said tube, and means fixedrelatively to said tube for limiting movement of thestack of coins underthe influence of the resilient supporting means.

2. In a coin-handling apparatus, a coinserving appartus comprising astacking tube having an inlet in the side wall of an overflow outlet inthe side wall opposite said inlet, a plunger mounted in said tubenormally below said inlet and slidable longitudinally of said tube forraising the stack of coins therein, resiliently supported means mountedadjacent the top end of said tube for receiving said stack of coins andraising same to a position of access, and means fixed relatively to saidtube for limiting the movement of said stack of coins under theinfluence of said resiliently supported means.

3. In a. coin-handlin apparatus, a coinserving apparatus comprising astacking tube adapted to receive coins in orderly stacked arrangement, aplunger mounted in said tube and slidable longitudinally thereof forraising the stack of coins therein, a sleeve resiliently supported uponsaid tube and provided with coin holding fingers adapted to receive thestack of coins from said plunger and support same, and stop membersarranged in predetermined fixed relation to the end of said tube forlimiting movement of the stack of coins under the influence of theresiliently supported fingers.

L'In a coin-handling apparatus, a coinserving apparatus comprising astacking tube adapted to receive a plurality of coins in orderly stackedarrangement, a plunger normally supporting'said coins and slidablelongitudinally of said tube, a plate arranged at the end of said tubeand having an opening conforming to the bore of said tube and stopmembers partially overlying said opening, and resiliently supportedcoin-holding fingers arranged to receive the stack of coins from saidplunger durlng its longitudinal slidlng movement and force the topmostcoin of said stack against said stop members.

5. In a coin-handling apparatus, i a runway adapted to receive coins insingle file and so arranged as to cause rolling motion of said coinstherein in contact with one side wall thereof, said wall being providedwith an opening to allow a predetermined size of coins to passtherethrough, said opening being provided with a lower lip to therebytilt the proper size coins into said opening prior to their completepassage therethrough, the end wall of said opening sloping upwardlycounter to the direction of motion of said coins.

6. In a coin-handling apparatus, a runway adapted to receive coins insingle file and so arranged as to cause rolling motion of said coinstherein in contact with one side wall thereof, said wall being providedwith an opening to allow a predetermined size of coin to passtherethrough, the entrance portion of said opening being provided with alower lip to retain the lower edge of a coin of the predetermined sizewithin said runway as the top edge of said coin tilts outwardly throughsaid opening, and means for deflecting the lower edge of said tiltedcoin from said'runway when the rolling coin clears the end of said lowerlip;

7. A coin-handling apparatus of the type having an inclined runwayadapted to receive coins in single file and having an opening in onewall of said runway through which coins of a predetermined size pass,characterized by the fact that said opening has substantially the shapeof a rhomboid with a guide lip on its lower edge, said guide lipterminating short of the length of the opening. 7

8. In a coin-handling apparatus, aspiral runway adapted to receive coinsin single file and to impart centrifugal force thereto to cause saidcoins to roll in contact with one side-wall of said runway, said wallbeing provided with an opening to allow a predetermined size of coin topass therethrough, said opening havin-ga lower lip to thereby tilt theproper size. coins into said opening prior to their complete passagetherethrough, the end wall of saidopening sloping upwardly counter tothe direction of motion of said come.

9. In a coin-handling apparatus, a stacking tube adapted: to receiveand'stack coins of one size, a plunger mounted in and slidabl'elongitudinally of said tube for raising the stack of coins therein, andmeans for receiving and removing said stack of coins from said plunger.

10. In a coin-handling apparatus, means for efiecting a separation ofcoins into separate denominations according to their diameters,includingan inclined spiral runway into which the coins are fed and in which theyroll on edge in single file in contact with the outer wall of saidrunway, said outer Wall being provided with an opening, said openingbeing elongated in the direction of movement of said coins, and havingan upstanding lip along the bottom of said opening, said lip terminatingshort of the end of said opening. 7

l1. The structure as set forth in claim 10 characterized by the factthat the end wall of said opening adjacent the end of the saidupstanding lip slants upwardly and in the direction of movement of saidcoins.

12. In a coin-handling apparatus, a runway adapted to receive coins insingle file and so arranged as to cause rolling motion of said coins incontact with one side wall of saidrunway, said wall being provided withan opening to allow a predetermined size of coin to passtherethrough,the entrance por-' tion of said opening being provided witha lower lip to retain the lower edge of a coin of predetermined sizewithin therunway as the top edge of said coin tilts outwardly throughsaid opening, and means at the exit portion of said opening andpositioned to be engaged only by those rolling coins whose upper edgesare tilted through said opening for deflecting the lower edges of saidtilted coins from said runway as the tilted rolling coins severallyclear the end of said lower lip.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means comprisesmembers resiliently mounted in the path of movement of said stack ofcoins and displaceable thereby upon the movement of said stack of coins.

14. In a coin-handling apparatus, a stacking tube adapted to receive andstack coins of one size, a plunger mounted for longitudinal movement insaid tube, means for introducing coins into said tube above saidplunger, means for moving sad plunger upwardly, and means active upon anupward movement of said stack of coins for engaging the bottom coin ofsaid stack and removing said stack from said plunger.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second meansresiliently holds said stack of coins in the upper portion of said tube.

16. The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein said second meanscomprises members disposed circumferentially about that portion of theaxis of said tube along which said stack of coins is moved by saidplunger.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

LABAN E. JONES. ALBERT N. NADEAU.

